Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-01

aGood coll" said Thatcher, in great con-
csrn, u never thought Of that" He stopped
for moment, and then added With decision:
u can't believe Il; It INIT like her."
Mr.. p. was piqued. She walled away, de-
Nvering, however, this Parthian arrow:
9Wen, hope taSn't nothing scorss.s
Thatcher chuckled, then felt uneasy. When
he next met Carmen she found his gray eyes
fixed on hers with q curious, half-inquiz-
tcrial look she had never noticed before This
only added fuel to the fire. Forgetting their
relations of host and guest, she was aheo-
lutely rude Thatcher was quiet but watch
full; got the Plodgitt to bed early, and, under
cover Of showing . moonlight view Of tho
@Lost Chance Mil, I" decoyed Carmen out Of
earshot a. far - the dinnantled furnace.
"what = tho matter, Mis Dc Haro; have
offended your
Miss Carmen was not aware that anything
was the matter. Il Don Royal preferred old
friends, whose loyalty Of course he know, and
sDho Ssrs above speaking " against a
gentleman In his advsrstty-(oh, Garment
feD II he preferred their company to later
friends-why-Nhem masculine reader win OBJ
serve this tremendous climax and tremble)-
why she didn't know why hs should blame
her.
They turned and faced each other. The
conditions for . perfect misunderstanding
could not have been better arranged between
two people. Thatcher was . masculine rea-
soner, Carmen feminine feeler-h may b
pardoned the expression. Thatcher wanted
to get at certain facts and argue therefrom.
Carmen wanted to get at certain feelings and
then fit the facts to them.
aBut am not blaming You, Mis- Carmen"
he said gravely. ut sSas stupid in me to con-
front you here with the property claimed by
your uncle and occupied by me, but it was .
mistake-nol' he added hastily, ut was not
mistake. You knew it and didn't You
overlooked it before you came, and I was too
glad to overlook 1t after you were here"
aOf course" said Carmen pettishly, II am
the only one to be blamed. It's like you msni
QGem. She was just fifteen, and uttered this
awful resume of experience just as IL it hadn't
been taught to her in her cradle.)
Feminine generalities always stagger .
man. Thatcher said nothing. Carmen be-
came more enraged.
"Why did you want to take Uncle Victor's
property, theni" she asked triumphantly.
II don know that it is your uncle's prop
srty."
@You-dont-knowi Have you seen the
application with Governor Micheltorenas
indorsementa Have you heard the witt
nessesgn she said passionately.
signatures may be forged and witnesses
he," said Thatcher quietly.
~What is it you call 'forgedr"
Thatcher instantly recalled the fact that
the Spanish language held no synonym for
forgery" The act was apparently an inven-
ton Of el Diablo Americana. So he said,
with slight smile in his kindly eye:
"Anybody wicked enough and dextsrous
enough can initiate another's handwriting.
When this is used to bens6t fraud we call It
forgery beg your pardon-Mis De Haro,
Mis- Carmen-what il the matterr
She bad suddenly lapsed against . tree,
quite helpless, nervelesa, and with staring
eyes fixed on his. As yet an embryo woman,
inexperienced and ignorant, the sex's instinct
was potential; she bad in one plunge faith
omed all that his reason had been years CROP
ing for.
Thatcher saw only that she was pained, that
she was helpless; that was enough. ut Is
possible that your uncle may have been de-
ceived, ," he began; "many honest men have
been fooled by clever but deceitful trickstsrs,
men and women
"Stopl Madre de DiosI win you stopp
Thatcher for an instant recoiled from the
flashing eyes and white face Of the nttle
& lre that had, with menacing and clenched
D 3aby fingers, strobe to his side He stopped.
3Where is this application-this forgeryi" she
asked. aShow 1t to mel"
Thatcher felt relieved, and smiled the gu-
psrior smile Of our sex over feminine ignor.
anca sYou could hardly expect me to b
trusted with your uncles voucherA His pa
psrs Of course are In the hands Of his
counsel
aAnd when can I lsavs this placer shs
aslad unndonntalv